What is An Independent Living Specialist and How Can One Benefit Me?

What is An Independent Living Specialist and How Can One Benefit Me?

Jeff speaks with Jacqi Dix of Personal Access Solutions about the benefits of using an Independent Living Strategist for people with disabilities and seniors who want to remain in their homes.

What is an Independent Living Strategist and how can they help people with disabilities or those who are interested in aging in place?

An Independent Living Strategist can assist people who want to stay in their home regardless of their age or ability. Often, there are barriers at home that weren’t an issue at one time. However, once there are changes in the resident’s abilities, they become problematic. These barriers include…

Steps. A Living Strategist can help to eliminate those barriers so people get access to their bedroom or inside the home.

Showers. People may have difficulty lifting their leg over the wall of a traditional bathtub in order to access the shower. This can be particularly troublesome for people if they have had problems with their knees and hips, or have had surgery. A barrier-free shower can be installed that takes the bathtub out so that you are able to walk in on a level floor. This modification allows people to shower independently.

Designed to Benefit All People

Jacqui also discusses the importance of Universal Design. Universal Design involves designing products and spaces for use and to benefit the widest range of people of all abilities. It includes items such as door handles, ramps, hand rails and grab bars Modifications has a functional purpose, but is aesthetically pleasing, as to avoiding looking like a hospital or health care facility.